Perry Kouroumblis, the 65-year-old suspect in the 1977 Easey Street double murder case, has agreed to be extradited from Italy to Australia. Despite maintaining his innocence, Kouroumblis expressed his desire to return to Melbourne and address the allegations, according to his lawyer, Serena Tucci.
Kouroumblis, who was apprehended in Rome last week after arriving from Greece, appeared before an Italian magistrate via video link on Monday. He confirmed his consent to extradition, a decision his lawyer described as irrevocable under Italian law.
Victorian police are expected to submit a formal extradition request within 45 days, and homicide detectives are anticipated to travel to Rome as part of the process.
Kouroumblis’ lawyer revealed that he was caught off guard by the arrest, claiming he was unaware of the legal differences between Greece and Italy regarding extradition. He had been residing in Greece since 2017, a country that does not allow extradition for charges older than 20 years.
The arrest follows a renewed investigation into the 1977 murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in their Collingwood home. Kouroumblis initially came under scrutiny shortly after the crime when police allegedly discovered a blood-stained knife in his possession.
While he provided a DNA sample to authorities during a 2017 investigation, he subsequently moved to Greece, hindering extradition efforts. However, DNA from a relative reportedly established a match, leading to his recent arrest in Italy.
Kouroumblis’ consent to extradition is expected to significantly expedite the legal process. He could face charges and trial in Australia in a much shorter timeframe than if he had contested the extradition.